7 Myths About Discipline You Need to Stop Believing

Self-discipline is doing what you need to do, regardless of whether you want to do it. Having self-discipline is often seen as the key ingredient to creating a goal-driven life.

We’re told that only through strict discipline can we maintain our effort and make the strides necessary to be successful. Without self-discipline, we’re sure to end up acting imprudently and impulsively. Living a disciplined life is the key to keeping ourselves in check.

But what if discipline isn’t as important as we’ve been led to believe? What if self-discipline is really a shortsighted concept that, while helpful in some situations, can actually keep us from reaching our full potential? Certainly, nothing can replace hard work and persistence, but does grit really come from self-discipline? Or is self-discipline just one element of a larger concept -- and the real issue is our ability to tap into what motivates us?